Hulu is Bringing a New Animated Comedy Series ‘Swap Meet’ Featuring Isaac Gonzalez and Star Ralph Barbosa
Comedian Ralph Barbosa to Star in New Animated Series ‘Swap Meet’ for Hulu
Comedian Ralph Barbosa is set to executive produce and star in "Swap Meet," a new half-hour animated comedy series currently in development at Hulu. The project is helmed by writer and executive producer Isaac Gonzalez.
Being developed by Sony Pictures Television and 20th Television Animation, with Sony serving as the lead studio, "Swap Meet" follows the story of Ralph, voiced by Barbosa, who navigates life with the Cortez family—a vibrant, blue-collar Mexican American clan working various jobs at the Eastgate Swap Meet, a bustling marketplace teeming with a myriad of goods and services.
The series emerged from a successful pitch, with Blake Griffin, Ryan Kalil, and Noah Weinstein also on board as executive producers through Mortal Media.
Barbosa’s involvement with Hulu comes after the platform distributed his latest stand-up special, "Ralph Barbosa: Planet Bosa," which premiered in August.
The announcement of "Swap Meet" arrives amidst a dynamic landscape for animated programming. Recent notable projects include Hulu’s order of "Deano" from Dean Thomas and David Ferrier, as well as Netflix’s greenlighting of Brian Tyree Henry’s "Bass X Machina" and the adult animated series "Dang!" Adult Swim has also added "My Two Cars" from Dan Licata and Joe Pera to its lineup. Meanwhile, directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein are developing an animated "Venom" for Sony, and Sycamore Studios has announced plans for a new "Madeline" movie.
Before "Planet Bosa," Barbosa made waves with his Netflix special "Cowabunga," which debuted as the #3 TV show on the platform in its first week in October 2023. His work includes a collaboration with Gwen La Roka on the Max comedy special "Entre Nos: The Winners 3," and his digital performances have garnered millions of views on YouTube. Barbosa is gearing up for his upcoming nationwide "The Red 40 Tour," set to launch in March.
Isaac Gonzalez is an accomplished Mexican-American writer and producer with a diverse portfolio in both animation and live-action. His animation credits include "Victor & Valentino," "Legends of Chamberlain Heights," and Seth MacFarlane’s "Bordertown." In the live-action domain, he has contributed to HBO Max’s "The Gordita Chronicles" and Netflix’s "Mr. Iglesias," while also developing projects with major networks including Amazon and ABC.
Mortal Media, co-founded by former NFL center Ryan Kalil and NBA star Blake Griffin, is also known for producing the Apple TV sci-fi dramedy "Hello Tomorrow!" and the Hulu reboot of "White Men Can’t Jump." Their recent projects include the action-thriller short story "Carrier" by Aaron Benjamin.
